Oh dear Julie….you could have done without that but hopefully all is settled now and with a sigh of relief you can have Christmas a little late. I believe in Birthday weeks and Christmas weeks anyway. Too important for just one day. Sending you healthy thoughts and hope you have a better New Year.

I am texting back and forth with my sister under tornado watch in Dallas. Apparently hanging put in the laundry just isn’t a fun way to pass the time!

The tornados were huge in Texas and narrowly missed my sister’s suburb. Much destruction and unfortunately deaths. Very scary. My thoughts got to those affected. It happens so quickly.

I hope everyone is safe. Julie, I hope you are recovering well.
Barbara, I hope all are safe where you are and that Petey is better.
Millie, sending cool breezes and relaxing money’s to you.
Cathryn, loads of hugs and soothing thoughts.
Nancy, hope all is well with you.

I just lost a post, but glad to hear that your sister is ok, Anna. I’ve been thinking about you both. I wonder what we each would want to put into the laundry room to outfit it for a possible tornado watch? Soft cushions and licorice pipes, for sure.
Deep breaths, everyone, and back to comfort and joy.

Thanks Cathryne. My sister definitely wanted soft cushions but she requested a glass of wine instead of the pipes! I would think glass would be dangerous so maybe a thermos instead. Personally I would want Earl Grey tea, fine chocolates and licorice pipes. Definitely cushions and the latest Louise Penny.

Thank you to all who worried about me – I’m doing really well. I had planned to go to the theatre this afternoon with my Jane Austen group – but just didn’t feel up to it. I’m having a nice calm day at home, after a long lie-in this morning. Presents are still under the tree, but not for long now, hahaha. I had finished my baking, so cookies and mince tarts are at hand.

Anna – some terrible things have been happening all over from weather here, but I think Texas has had the worst of it lately. For my laundry room, I’d want the soft cushions, my Kindle, so I could at least read (as I assume the internet would be down under tornado conditions), and lots of hot cocoa and cookies…

Cathryne – I think of you, too, as San Diego is one of my favorite cities. I think the weather there is as perfect as weather ever gets… have lots of fond memories of my times there, even though they were with my first husband…

Barbara, I hope all is well with you and Petey is back home and living in the lap of luxury… I felt a kinship with him this week!

Anna – I have now finished the book I was reading about Anne Perry as Juliet Hulme and watched Heavenly Creatures. I think I have a very good idea of what most people thought happened, given that the girls never really gave much of an accounting that made any sense to anyone. I have both felt horror at what they did, and some sympathy toward them in their sense of helplessness to just be able to remain with the person they loved the most. Given that it was a very destructive relationship, it is, of course, probably best that they weren’t allowed to be together, but I can imagine after a childhood spent in long bouts of illness in hospitals, removed from their families, and in Juliet’s case, never having been on the receiving end of any kind of parental love, that it would be difficult to the extreme to be told you can’t stay with the one other person in the world who understands you. I wonder what might have happened if the girls had never found an obstacle in their way. Maybe their infatuation with each other would have run its course and dissipated as they matured… After all, most people don’t move anywhere near as often as Juliet’s parents did, and they sent her away or left her places way more than anyone else I can imagine. If she’d just always been in the same place and allowed to have a very close friend, even to the extent that it was probably unhealthy, but leaving it be and letting it run out it’s fascination for her, maybe all would have turned out well…

It certainly brings a perspective to Anne Perry’s work – she seems to be constantly battling between forces of good and evil in her work, but she’s also thrown herself into research to get the Victorian setting so right. She was right in one thing – she is a brilliant writer. I think she’s in complete denial now that any such thing happened, or that she had much to do with it, but I’m sure that’s a kind of self-preservation reflex. I can’t imagine living with myself if I’d done something so horrible, and I think she is just hanging on to whatever semblance of peace she can.

Keep relaxing Julie. You will feel a bit wiped out for a little while so don’t feel you have to do anything….although those presents wouldn’t take too much energy to open!
Weather keeps being bizarre the world over. Texas is freezing and due snow I believe!
Hang in there everyone!

Julie, Julie, Julie. What a Christmas! So glad you got to the ER and help. Take care dear Friend.

Oh Anna. The TV news is reporting the devastation in Texas. How odd. To be texting your sister while she shelters from the tornado. safe. What to have in the Laundry room to wait out the storm. Oh, yes, Soft cushions for sure. Dark chocolate, coffee and vase ( the special one.) I have fallen asleep on the concrete floor in my laundry room while caring for a Mother dog and her litter. She had shown up at the house about midway through her pregnancy. She was in bad physical condition and I had to feed her during the night and give the pups extra milk by bottle.

When I was remembering the Christmases Past on Christmas Eve, I was remembering the wonderful celebrations that were a part of my life for so many years. The excitement, happiness, anticipation and complete joyfulness. So many events and activities. I loved shopping for the perfect gift for everyone. Beautiful and adored services at Church, parties with different groups and organizations, the quiet moments with relatives as I reveled in the sense of belonging.

This Christmas was good. My sister gave me a gift that only she could give me. She put on a smile and let me have a Christmas without her weeping. I thanked her this morning before I came home. Thank you Millie for your kind and caring words.

Thanks to all of you for keeping up with Petey and me. He is feeling much better. He is still quieter than usual because of medication. I’m very much better too.

you

As the year draws to a close, I send warm thoughts filled with love and caring and wishing happiness, joy and contentment for each of you,

What a lovely post, Barbara! I can just see you in the laundry room with the special vase! The Christmases you describe are just what Christmas ought to be, and I’m so happy you have had some wonderful times. I have always loved Christmas. Unfortunately, neither of my husbands has. I shocked my friend Becky once when I just burst out one year – “I’m never getting married again, but if I were to, I’d check to see how the person handles Christmas!” I was so frustrated, as Vern is the kind of person who gives to me every day, but can’t serve it up “on demand” for Christmas, and he always says that he is not going to waste money on buying a present just to have something under the tree… Which I find very frustrating, because I want to do the whole thing where you find just the right thing, and shop all year, but I’ve come to terms with that now, hahaha. I have my friends who love Christmas, and we celebrate in our own ways, and it all works out.

Glad you had a good visit with your mother on Christmas, Anna. We don’t ask for much do we ? Hope your Dad is enjoying the Cricket Matches. We saw a team practice in Bermuda and we’ve watched a few matches on TV but that’s all.
I’ve read a few books recently too. Cussler’s Solomon was a good read as I enjoy the Sam and Remi Fargo series.
Louise recently mentioned her friend Rhys Bowen again. I have read all in the series of Lady Georgianna Rannoch (broke of course) who is 35th in line for the British Throne. The most recent, Malice at the Palace, had a bit of the paranormal in it.
I also read Laura Childs’ Book, 13th in the Scrapbooking Mystery Series, Parchment and Old Lace. I just love to read how they crate the beautiful scrapbooks, memory boxes, invitations and posters. The characters are fun and New Orleans is such a fascinating city. A friend of Sam’s grew up in the Garden District and used to tell us great stories. Here again, no Louise Penny but good reads. Thank goodness, the Library has started buying books again.
Saw the snow in Dallas on News. What next ? At least snow is seasonal while here we have turned air conditioning on for the 4th day. Heavy overcast with humidity in high 90’s. Sun peeps out for a few minutes and then is gone again.

Cathryne, I didn’t realize you are in San Diego . The climate is supposed to be ideal from what I read. Of course, San Diego means the Zoo to me. The Johnny Carson show often featured animals from the Zoo. To hold a baby tiger in your arms would be fantastic. I know they are wild animals and not pets, but just for those few weeks…….
I hope things are better for you. Remember to take care of yourself…..we care.

Julie, my husband is a “convert” to Christmas Celebrations. His family hardly took note of it. ” A waste of time and money. Gifts are only for children. No more Santa, no more gifts.” His brother and sister were also introduced to fun and festivities by spouses. The children grew up enjoying the holidays.
You are smart to celebrate with friends.
So sorry you didn’t get to go with your Jane Austen group. I’m sure it would have been fun.
Take care of yourself.

Dear Julie…..Thank you! I just this second arrived home to find your copy of Apple of my Eye in the mail. Can’t wait plan a trip to Washington to give you a big hug of thanks! Now I have something to read this afternoon after finishing my novel yesterday.
I do hope you are regaining energy and feeling more yourself. Sorry you missed Christmas. It is a big deal in this house driven hard by a 14 y.o who still gets Santa presents….talk about gaming the system. We are hoping for a White one next year.
It sounds far too hot Barbara. Hotter than here for sure. I see big storms are still milling about. Hope everyone stays safe.

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